September 11, 2025 • 34 mins
Today's Mystery: A woman in her sixties is found dead next to her husband and he claims not to know why it happened.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 28, 1951
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Candyce, Patreon supporter since October 2021
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again on Monday for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 28, 1951
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Candyce, Patreon supporter since October 2021
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again on Monday for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnant. But
first I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast,
to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Our
(00:51):
listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can support the
show as one of our ongoing Patreon supporters forts a
little last two dollars per month Patreon dot Great Detectives
dot net and receive special updates from me. You will also,
if you support the program at the Shawmas level of
(01:11):
four dollars or more per month, receive access to extra
podcasts we do generally total of about an hour and
a half in time, might be two half hour, you know,
an hour and a half hour program or three half
hour programs, but regardless, we will do some extra stuff
(01:34):
that you're able to listen to. Check it out at
Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. But now, from June
twenty eighth, nineteen fifty one, here is the big cleft.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
The story you were about to hear is true, only
the names have been changed to protect the innocent you're
a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide Detail. An elderly
(02:15):
man reports the sudden death of his wife. He claims
he awoke in the morning to find her dead on
the floor of their bedroom. The cause of death is
not a parent. Your job investigate.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Drag net, the documented drama of an actual crime. For
the next thirty minutes, in cooperation of the Los Angeles
Police Department, you will travel, step by a step on
the side of the law through an actual case transcribed
from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime
to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force.
In action.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Was Friday, November twelfth. It was cold in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of Homicide Detail.
My partner's Ben Romero. The boss's Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives.
My name's Friday. It was nine thirty eight am when
I got back to the first floor of the Blackwell Hotel,
Room seven.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Oh hi, Joe, come on, yeah, how's the old fellow
doing you tell you anything. Hasn't talked at all. He's
pretty broken now. The woman's dead, that's about it. How
about the bruise on her for do you think that
could have been it. No, it was just a slight bruise.
I don't think that could have killed her.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
They moved the body out of the room, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Yeah, they just did, taking it downtown for the autopsy. Well,
I guess we can take the old man back to
his own room now.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
Huh yeah, I think so.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
He's back here in the kitchen now, fixed him a
cup of Coffee's still feeling pretty bad, mister darnerth would
you like to go back to your room now?
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Everything's been fixed up dinner?
Speaker 7 (04:01):
What happened? You can tell me what happened to Gertrude.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
I'm afraid we don't know, mister Turner, not yet.
Speaker 7 (04:08):
I told you about it, didn't I woke up this
morning about eight o'clock, put marm over on the pillar.
She wasn't there, and I got up my Charlene on
the floor, my wife, Gertrude. I felt her arm. She
was cold, ice cold. Somebody old to know what happened.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Well, we'll let you know, just as ay as we
get the corner's report. Sir, would you like to go
back to your own room?
Speaker 6 (04:34):
Now?
Speaker 7 (04:34):
What's corner have to do with it?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Well, he's gonna have to perform an autopsy. We'll have
the report for you tomorrow morning.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
I don't want him to do that to Gertrude.
Speaker 6 (04:43):
I don't want him to I'm sorry, sir, I'm afraid
it's necessary. Yes, of this kind.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
There was no doctor in attendance, nobody designed the debts ortellicate.
Speaker 7 (04:51):
There's nothing I can do. Nothing to help her.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
I'm sorry, mister Turner. Can we help you back to
your room? Sir?
Speaker 7 (05:00):
Is she still there?
Speaker 6 (05:01):
No, so they've taken nobody downtown. Can I give you
a hand there?
Speaker 7 (05:06):
Thank you?
Speaker 6 (05:09):
All right, I'll get the door.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
Where'd mister Parkson go?
Speaker 6 (05:19):
Who's that, sir?
Speaker 7 (05:20):
The hotel manager, mister Parker? Oh yeah, these are his
rooms here. I wanted to tell him, thank you for
letting me stay down here a while.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
Well, I think you'll be back in a few minutes.
He was busy outside.
Speaker 7 (05:32):
Nice of 'em. Let me use his place. I couldn't
stay in our room, not the way it was Gertrude
out there.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
It's all right now, mister Turner. Can you make the
stairs all right?
Speaker 7 (05:46):
Yes? Thank you. You're just a little tired, that's all.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
I guess.
Speaker 7 (05:51):
The whole thing's betten too much.
Speaker 6 (05:52):
For me. Maybe you'd like to have us call your
family doctor.
Speaker 7 (05:56):
No, we don't have a family doctor. All right, after
a spell, just hard to understand, that's all. You have
to think about it a while. Shit, think about it.
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Yes, here we are, I'll get the door.
Speaker 7 (06:12):
Go ahead, men, Yeah, right there on the floor. That's
where I found her when I woke up, right there
by the bed. Where have they taken her?
Speaker 6 (06:29):
Downtown, mister Turner, to the county Morgue.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Oh, they'll let me see here, won't they.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
Yes, sir, they will. Do you feel up to answering
a few questions for us? Now?
Speaker 7 (06:38):
All right, I'll tell you everything I know about it.
I don't see how it's gonna help anything.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
I'm gonna try to make it as brief as possible, sir. Now,
your wife's full name is Gertrude Agnes Turner, Is that right?
Speaker 7 (06:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (06:51):
That's right, all right?
Speaker 7 (06:52):
But she Gertrude sixty three? Yeah, that's it. I'm four
years older than her a child.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Tell was your wife in good health, mister Turner, under
a doctor's care or anything like that?
Speaker 7 (07:06):
No, nothing wrong with her.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
I knew of heart trouble anything like that.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
No, sir, She used to have headaches overing now on
them doctor friend of ours back home, you send pills
for her to take. That's about all.
Speaker 6 (07:21):
How was your wife feeling last night with you? All right?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Then?
Speaker 7 (07:24):
Just fine? When I woke up, I put my arm
over on her pillow. She wasn't there. Then I got
up and sorrow laying on the floor right by the
bed Gertrude. She was ice cold. There was a little
bruise up here on her forehead. I thought I was
(07:45):
dreaming she was dead. Who were getting made a year?
Speaker 6 (07:53):
You want to go on stream? You think you feel
all right?
Speaker 7 (07:57):
It's all right, Oh sir, I got a little bit
of brandy and that covered over there. I think I
could use some of you two officers, don't mind perfectly?
Speaker 6 (08:06):
All right? Certain, I'll get a mister dinner.
Speaker 7 (08:12):
We had it all figured out. Tuesday, November sixteenth. That's
her name's day. November sixteenth. It's my wife's name's day.
You see, Gertrude's German girl. A lot of German people
don't celebrate their birthday. They celebrate their names day instead.
Next Tuesday, Saint Gertrude's day.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
Oh yeah, miss dinner.
Speaker 7 (08:37):
Thank you? Either one of your officers casting Brandy certainly
welcome to.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Do you or your wife have many friends in town,
mister Turner.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
No, No, just a few around the hotel here. Gertrude
and I have only been in California a few months,
come out from in Fort Wayne.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Yes, sir, no relatives here.
Speaker 7 (09:03):
No, sure, wife only had one relative living sister. She's
she's back in Indiana.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
Oh. How did you and your wife get along all right?
Speaker 7 (09:11):
Oh? Fine, we never had any trouble. I loved her off.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Sure did your wife have any enemies that you know of, sir?
People she didn't get along with? Somebody who might have
wanted to hurt her?
Speaker 7 (09:22):
Ooh, I can't think her anywhere.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Well, how about some of the men your wife knew
before she married you missed Turner, any bad feelings one
of them might have had Georgia wife.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
No, sure, nothing I know of side. All her old
friends are still back there in Indiana.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
You say your marriage was working out pretty well. Your
wife didn't have any gentleman friends that she might have
been interested in.
Speaker 7 (09:43):
Oh, sure, I know that For the truth. Richard spent
her time at home, She didn't run around. She was
a good wife.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
Would you know if your wife had any reason at
all to take her own wife? Maybe, Well, that's.
Speaker 7 (09:56):
The last thing in the world, Gerdr to do. No
reason for it. We had too many things to look
forward to, lots of things. You don't stop living just
because you passed sixty five. Yes, tell me the truth, officer.
Don't you really know what happened to her?
Speaker 6 (10:13):
No, sir, no more than you do. Afraid we'll have
to wait for that corner's report.
Speaker 7 (10:18):
I don't understand, the officer, But am I supposed to
understand it? I went to bed last night and I
had a wife. Yeah, today's one day off. We're going
to take a car ride down the beach. That's the
dress she was gonna wear hanging up there. Gertrude made
(10:38):
it herself. She was gonna were today.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
I'll try to take it easy, mister Turner.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
I beg your pardon. She's all I had. Why should
she have to die? She didn't have to die, did she?
Speaker 6 (10:53):
I don't know, sir. Maybe she didn't have a choice.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
The body of the dead woman, Missus Gertrude Agnes Turner,
who was removed to the County Morgue for autopsy. Ben
and I filled out the three to eleven form the
dead body report and filed it. Handing the outcome of
the autopsy. A couple of mister Turner's friends who lived
upstairs from him at the Blackwhell Hotel, agreed to look
after the old man until he got over the shock
of his wife's sudden death seven forty five.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
The next morning, I checked in for work as usual. Morning, Joe, morning,
Well you know, not much, pretty slow. How about the
Turner woman? No word in the autopsy?
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Huh No, corner hasn't called yet, and you've got any smokes?
I left the house in hurry this morning, forgot everything.
Yeah right here? Oh thanks, yeah, thanks loves In morning,
another row with a wife.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
Uh surmnn.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
Oh, another one of those church bazaars. She got herself
mixed up and she's calling on me for help again.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Well yeah, what you what you do now? Remember the
last time, don't you?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
That spring bazaar had me working on decorations down the church,
seven nights week eighteen, women running around telling you what
to do. Yeah, it's like a mad house, Joe. This
time is even worse. What do you mean this time?
Speaker 6 (12:07):
The ladies figure they ought to have a little more production.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
They want me to dress up in some kind of
a funny costume option off pies and keys, you know,
stove by a pat fuse mustache work.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
No, you turn them down there, you won't do it
with it?
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Well, not exactly. Wife kicked up such a Rouguess I'll
end up doing it. Got any idea, though, wouldn't be
so bad if I had somebody to work with me?
Speaker 6 (12:30):
You wouldn't like to help me out with Joe?
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Well, I'll tell you, I'm gonna be a little busy, Ben,
But if I get a chance, i'll drop out and
see you though.
Speaker 6 (12:37):
I'll get it. Yeah, homicide Friday? Oh yeah, how was
that all right? Yeah? Okay, we'll be right over was
doc cephalo over it? The more about miss Turner got
the autopsy report for Yeah, they won't sign the death certificate.
What's the trouble? A couple of things looks too suspicious form,
(12:58):
they said? How'd they list? Because of that? She suffocated?
Eight fifteen a m. We went across the street and
talked with doctor Cephalou.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
All he could tell us was that Gertrude Turner had
suffered severe convulsions and that she had died of suffocation.
There was a small bruise in her forehead and numerous
other small bruises around the base of the throat, not
enough to say that the woman had been murdered, and
yet too much to dismiss the case as an accidental death.
Together with Lorman and Barrett from Homicide, Ben and I
looked up some of the friends of mister and missus Turner.
(13:30):
We found two points which didn't check out with the
story that mister Turner had told us. According to the friends,
Turner had had some violent arguments with his wife. On
at least one occasion he had struck her. And Secondly,
the dead woman did have a gentleman friend in the neighborhood,
but his conduct with her had been above question was
strictly friendship. We decided to take it from there. We
went back to the Blackwell Hotel and found mister Turner
(13:53):
in his room. He was wrapping up some of his
wife's personal effects and packing them in corrugated boxes. We
told him about the corners.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
I don't think I believe that Charger people just don't suffocate.
There's gotta be a reason.
Speaker 6 (14:11):
For it, Yes, sir, that's what we're looking for.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
Well, don't they know can't they tell you how it
happened that the doctors.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Well, she had severe convulsions, she suffocated, that's just all
they could tell us.
Speaker 7 (14:20):
Well, a bruise on her head, Gertrude for it, What
did they say about that?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Well, that wasn't the cause of death, mister Turner. She
could have gotten a bump when she fell out of bed.
It might have been there, it might not.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
I just don't understand. You think they'd be some way
of tell 'em.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Well, we were around talking to some of your friends
in the neighborhood this morning, friends.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
Of you and your wife.
Speaker 7 (14:40):
Yeah, Oh, they've been real friends, officers. Every one of
'em been up to see me, brought me meals and things. Say,
isn't that a pretty see? Just look at them? Yes,
real boon china, a cup in a saucer. Richard used
to collect 'em, had o kays.
Speaker 6 (15:01):
Pitty, Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
When we were talking to you yesterday, Sarah, you told
us that you and your wife got along pretty well,
no arguments.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Yes, sure, that's right.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
Well, now, some of your friends tell us that you
used to argue with your wife quite a bit. Who
told you that some of your friends here in the neighborhood.
Is that true.
Speaker 7 (15:19):
When we first got married, Gertrude and I, I guess we
had a few spats, no different than other people getting
used to each other, things like that.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
You know, huh. Did you ever strike your wife, mister Tanner? Right, Yes,
that routine question. Did you ever strike your wife, mister Dinner.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Yes, one of the first arguments we had. I don't
even remember what it was about, that's how important it was.
I well, I lost my temper. I guess I kind
of slapped her. I felt like a no good bump.
Never once happened again, slappin' Gertrude chard to remember right now?
Speaker 6 (16:04):
Oh, we ask you the same question yesterday, sir. Couldn't
you told us that? Then? Oh?
Speaker 7 (16:08):
I'm sorry if s I guess I missed it. I well,
I wasn't feeling too good. I think you know what
I mean.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
But you remember us asking if your wife had any
gentleman friends.
Speaker 7 (16:20):
Yes, I remember that.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Well, is it true?
Speaker 7 (16:24):
Well, there's one fellow name's Clyde Warren, runs a drug
store down the street. I guess Gertrude knew him bearing anybody,
but he was my friend too.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Well, did you ever complain to this Clyde Warren, that
he was spending too much time around your wife, that
he ought to see less out.
Speaker 7 (16:40):
I think I did, maybe once or twice, which was
kind of in a fooling way. Certainly didn't mean it.
Clyde Warren's one of my best friends.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
Did you ever complain to your wife that she was
thinking too much warm? No?
Speaker 7 (16:54):
Sure, never even mentioned it. Why ask me all these things.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
When your wife's dead, mister Turning? We still have and
foind out why?
Speaker 7 (17:01):
But you asked me questions like I had something to
do with it.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
You were the last one to see her alive, sir.
You were alone with her in this room the night
she died.
Speaker 7 (17:09):
You think I killed Gertrude? Is that it? You think
I killed my own wife.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
I'm sure we didn't say anyone killed her.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Do you think I killed my own wife? You think
I killed her?
Speaker 6 (17:19):
What did you kill her? Mister?
Speaker 7 (17:22):
You know I didn't kill Gertrude. You know I didn't
do that.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
I'm sorry, sir, It's not much else we can do, now,
What do you mean?
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Corner found a series of bruises on the body right
around here, based on the neck. We know she died
a suffocation that two things seemed to fit pretty well.
Speaker 7 (17:41):
I don't know what you mean. I didn't see any bruises,
not on her neck. I don't know what you mean.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
Well, I have to take you downtown. Sir. You call your
lawyer now if you like.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
I don't have a lawyer. Why are you taking me
down to?
Speaker 6 (17:55):
No alternative? We're going to have to book you.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
How's that?
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Suspicion of murder? Ten twenty five am.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Before we booked him at the main jail, mister Turner
asked us if we'd get off a telegram to his
sister in law, missus Helen Raymond and Fort Wayne, Indiana,
informing her of what had happened.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
We told him we would, and we did.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
We booked him in on suspicion of one to eighty
seven PC, and then we checked back in at the office.
We put in a call to the insurance company that
held a policy on Missus Turner.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Yes, sir, Gertrude Agnes Turner, what was that? All right?
All right, thank you sir, goodbye? What they have to say?
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Missus Turner had three different policies on her life total
of five thousand dollars. Mister Turner's a beneficiary on all three.
It'll do for a motive something else. Yeah, yeah, newest
policies for one thousand dollars industrial policy.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
When was it taken out three weeks ago?
Speaker 3 (18:54):
You are in the scientific investigation division of a metropolitan
police department. The rule.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
You have just heard a test bullet fired from a
thirty eight caliber revolver found on the possession of a suspect.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
The test slug is removed from the ballistics box and
compared with the slug found at the scene of the crime.
There they are side by side. They look alike, but
examination will prove a world of difference.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Monday, November fifteenth, ten am, the investigation went on. We
failed to uncover any additional evidence against the suspect, mister Turner.
We had three main points against the man. The recently
issued insurance policy on his wife for one thousand dollars,
the fact that he had fought with his wife and
struck her on several occasions, and the series of bruises
which had been discovered at the base of the dead
(19:54):
woman's neck. Well, as it stood, we weren't too sure
that the case had holed up in court. Ben was
less Shue, or that the old man was actually responsible
for the death of his wife. We figured if Turner
was gilly, we might try to impress him with the
evidence against him and attempt to get a confession. Monday,
one pm, we went over to the main jail to
interrogate the suspect.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
If you want to step aside there, they want to
lock that door.
Speaker 8 (20:22):
Oh yes, this way, mister Turner. I'll get the last way.
Speaker 6 (20:36):
Right you're here, mister Turner. Mister Turner, like to sit down?
Speaker 7 (20:44):
Thank you? Why'd you come to see me? Have you
found out something?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
We've been checking a little bit further into the case,
mister Turner. We got a few more questions for you,
if you don't mind.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
Did you send the message to my sister and missus Raymond?
Do you want I asked you to send?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (20:58):
Or we took care of it the address, right, didn't you?
Fort Wayne? Indiana?
Speaker 6 (21:02):
That's right, just sent a telegram, told her all about it.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
That was two days ago. She should have gotten it,
but now I haven't heard a word from her. Are
you sure she got the telegram? All right?
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Pretty sure.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
We'll check on it and we get back to the office.
A few things we got here that you might like
to know about, Sir. Maybe you can help clear him
up for us.
Speaker 7 (21:19):
What's that, officer?
Speaker 6 (21:20):
We understand that your wife, Gertrud, had some insurance on
herself five thousand dollars worth.
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Yes, that's right. Something you want to know about it?
Speaker 6 (21:28):
Well, she named you as the beneficiary in each of
her policies.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
A correct, yes, sir, Gertrude was a great believer in insurance.
Don't hold with her too much myself. She used to
tell me all the time, guess uh in case she
died first, she wanted me to have a little something
for old age, something to retire on and get a
little ranch out in the valley.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
I understand she took out a policy just lately, a
thousand dollars about three weeks ago.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
I know about it. I didn't want her to do
it clean, waste of money. I told her payments you're
pretty steep.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Well, sir, is there anybody who can back that up
that you told your wife you didn't want her to.
Speaker 6 (22:05):
Take out that policy.
Speaker 7 (22:08):
No, I don't think so. We didn't talk about our
business with other people.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
M M, yeah, Friday, I don't know. Yeah, what is it?
Phone calls does it's important you don't want to be
Do you want to get it? Then okay, you.
Speaker 9 (22:20):
Can take it out the desk here all I think.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
I think I know what you mean the insurance. You
think that's why I killed Gertrude, isn't it right?
Speaker 6 (22:33):
Well, sir, put yourself in our place, mister Turner, What
would you think.
Speaker 7 (22:36):
You know in your heart? I didn't kill my wife?
You know that in your heart?
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Well, they don't pay us for what we believe. Turner.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
It pass to get the facts, to run down evidence
doesn't make any difference what I believe.
Speaker 7 (22:47):
Would you know I didn't kill her? You know that,
don't you?
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Well, sir, I know.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
We ask you if you ever argued with your wife,
and you told us no. We found out you beat
her up a couple of times. We asked you if
she was friendly with any of the men in the neighborhood.
You told us no, We found one. We asked you
about the bruises the coroner found on her neck.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
You don't know.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
You can't explain him. We asked if your wife had
been ill, if she had any sickness, to explain her
dying the way she did, and you said no. We
asked you about the insurance. You can't explain that either.
Three weeks before she dies, she takes out a thousand
dollars on her life.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
She dies in the same room with you, and you
don't know how or why. Now you tell me, mister,
what are we supposed to believe.
Speaker 7 (23:26):
Hi didn't kill her? Somebody has to believe that somebody
I didn't kill her.
Speaker 6 (23:35):
Joe, see you man?
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Yeah, yeah, had phone call. It was a long distance
Turner's sister, Missus Raymond. What she wanted calling from Fort Wayne.
She's flying out here tonight. Seemed pretty rode.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
Up about her sister. Huh. Mostly about mister Turner. She
claims he's innocent. Seems pretty sure of it. She can
prove that Turner didn't kill his wife, That's what she said.
She's bringing the proof with her.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Tuesday, November sixteenth, Turner's sister in law, Missus Raymond, was
scheduled to arrive at six p m by plane from Indiana.
At two p m, one of the main points in
the case against the suspect was proven false. A woman
friend of Missus Turner, after reading of the husband's arrest
in the paper, informed us that while Missus Turner was
visiting her home a few days before she died. She
(24:23):
complained of a severe headache. The woman's son, who was
studying to be a chiropractor, attempted to treat missus Turner's
headache by manipulating the muscles in her neck and shoulders.
The woman said that Missus Turner called the next day
and complained about receiving bruises on her neck as a
result of her son's experimental treatment. The son came down
to the office and signed a full statement to this effect.
(24:44):
At seven p m. Mister Turner's sister in law arrived,
whither was a doctor John Grant of Fort Wayne, Physician.
The two of them told us their story and gave
us all the information they had concerning the case. Ben
and I went immediately to the main jail, picked up
mister Turner and brought him back to the office.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
His sister in law and doctor Grant waited in the
adjoining room.
Speaker 7 (25:03):
Why did you bring me here? You're gonna ask me
more questions. I told you everything.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
No, sir, no more questions.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
You can't take me off the prisoner. I haven't had
a trial he is.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
No, sir, You're not going to have a trial, mister Turner,
we're releasing it. How is that your sister in law
is Raymond. She's in the next room with her doctor.
We're going to take you home, Sir.
Speaker 7 (25:21):
I don't think I understand, officer.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
How do you mean your sister and now just got
in from Fort Wayne tonight and she has her family
doctor with her. They told us about your wife, Gertrude,
everything we had to.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
Know about Gertrude, my wife. Well, what do you mean, officer.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Well, maybe you can understand, sir. Your wife was afraid
to let you know. She told her sister. She was
afraid it might break up her marriage.
Speaker 7 (25:44):
Afraid to tell me what.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Well, your wife suffered from epilepsy. She had it most
of her life.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
She had epilepsies, Yes, sir.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
She did.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
And this doctor Grant showed us that he's been sending
your wife medicine ever since you moved out here to California.
He treated her many times for the same thing before
you met her. She figured it might ruin her chances
of marrying you, so she kept it a secret.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
The menace I remember that used to come through the meal.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Well, that's it counts for the headache. She had the
night before she died. She probably had an attack during
the night, suffocated. That's how you found her in the morning.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
Well, why didn't they know the corner they examined?
Speaker 6 (26:21):
He Well, sir, that's just the point.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
If you die of epilepsy, there's just no way of telling,
not even by autopsy.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
Convulsions and suffocation that's the only way they can list it.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
And she was a shamed she was afraid to tell me.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Yes, sir, that's what she wrote to your sister in law.
We saw the letters.
Speaker 7 (26:39):
And I can leave now if I want to it.
Is it all right?
Speaker 6 (26:42):
We'll get your things from the property clerk first and
then you can go.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
Can I see Helen now, my sister in law? I'd
like to say alone, Yes, so you can. It's right
to that door. Well, thank you, changing it's all right,
Oh sure, yes, Just one thing i'd like to ask. Yes,
you knew all the time, didn't you? I mean, in
your own heart? How's that I couldn't kill Gertrude? In
(27:08):
your own heart? You knew that, didn't you? Aren't sure?
Speaker 6 (27:14):
Yes, sir, I know it.
Speaker 7 (27:16):
I thought you did. I'll be right.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Back, Joe. I wouldn't worry about him. We'll call it
a quite lie.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
The story you have.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Just heard was true, only the names were changed to
protect the innocent.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
On November sixteenth, the meeting was held in the office
of Blaine Steed, Captain of Homicide. In a moment the
results of that meeting, the death of Gertrude Turner was
proved beyond the doubt to be due to natural causes.
A nine point ten report was made which completely exonerated
(28:06):
the husband of the dead woman. You have just heard
Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical
advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker,
Los Angeles Police Department.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Stay tuned for Carters by Next over most NBC stations.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Welcome back. He wanted some help, but no doubt the
best he's going to get is Joe Friday coming down
to the church event to chuckle quietly at being in
his outfit. This is an interesting episode and features a
case where the police had reason to be suspicious and
(29:00):
acting appropriately, but nevertheless, the suspect was innocent. The purpose
of the investigation is ultimately to get at the truth,
not jump at first conclusions or impressions. The only thing
that may have given a clue to what was actually
going on worthy small insurance policies. Carrying a bunch of
(29:22):
little insurance policies is a bit annoying, and one reason
to do that is if you've got health problems and
you want to avoid a big medical exam. Even back
in nineteen fifty one, these weren't particularly large policies, and
today's money be sixty two thousand dollars, it'd be kind
(29:45):
of weird today for someone to have sixty two thousand
dollars in insurance insurance spread across four policies.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Well.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Listener comments and feedback, and there is some comments regarding
the big impossible and received a note from Blaine, from
Jim and also from David highlighting the fact that the
events were most likely taken from a nineteen twenty eight
(30:15):
case where a boy named Walter Cowins was missing and
a boy in Illinois showed up claiming to be him,
but was later proven to be an impostor. In real life,
the mother knew from the start of Christine Collins that
this was not her son. The LAPD captain J. J.
(30:39):
Jones thought she was a bad mother and she was
embarrassing the police Department and so had her committed until
the impostor admitted that he was not her son, and
Missus Collins subsequently sued the LAPD and one a judgment
(31:00):
which was never paid. A farmer was found and convicted
of the crime, but even though he admitted to other murders,
he denied murdering Walter Collins, who admitted to being an accessory,
recanted her confession, and Missus Collin spent the rest of
(31:22):
her life trying to find her son. This story was
also the basis of the The Changeling, and while I
think it would be really odd if there were another
case like this, it would be very weird for the
la PDA to support web making an episode on the
(31:46):
basis of that case because it was a huge news story.
It had been two decades, but there were still plenty
of people alive from the incident, including Missus Collins, so
it saves the like the risk of bringing all that
back up would be very, very high, which at a
(32:09):
time when they were trying to improve the force's image.
It just seems like such a weird decision, but I
do appreciate the information and everybody taking time to reach out.
Well now it is time to go ahead and thank
our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to
thank Candoras Patreon supporter since October twenty twenty one, currently
(32:30):
supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of seven
dollars and fourteen cents or more per month. Thanks so
much for your support, Candace, And that will do it
for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us
using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate
and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll
(32:52):
be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragging That,
But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly. Johnny,
do all aware?
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Oh what is it?
Speaker 6 (33:02):
I said?
Speaker 10 (33:03):
The greatest fishing in this man's world is right down
there below us.
Speaker 9 (33:06):
Oh watch your language, brother.
Speaker 10 (33:07):
I allowed to strap on a chute and leave you
to make the rest of the trip alone.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Fisherman.
Speaker 9 (33:11):
Huh, Yeah, you aren't kidding. That one of my favorite spots, right. Hey,
what's the marry?
Speaker 10 (33:17):
I think just a little twitch in my side my belly.
Doc said, was appendicid this last time, but he didn't
want to operate in this.
Speaker 9 (33:25):
Holy babe, that was a shot. Won't cliff anything I
can do?
Speaker 7 (33:29):
No, it's.
Speaker 9 (33:31):
Coming now.
Speaker 10 (33:31):
I sure, hope so ah, sure, sure, just came on
kind of sudden. So hey, it's time to call up
lads at the mine to be ready for us.
Speaker 9 (33:41):
How big is the airport up there? Eleven thousand foot?
Speaker 6 (33:44):
Right?
Speaker 7 (33:45):
Really?
Speaker 9 (33:46):
Sure?
Speaker 10 (33:46):
It's the only way to get stuff in for mines
one hundred miles around speed draft two three one calling consolidated.
Go ahead, please, somebody on duty there at all times
twenty four hours. Go ahead or over Fairbanks on the hour,
jolly rider Cliff.
Speaker 9 (34:03):
Over Fairbanks at fourteen dollars and roll.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Out the carpet.
Speaker 10 (34:07):
We'll sit down between fourteen forty five and fifty.
Speaker 9 (34:11):
Rider Cliff will be ready for you. Yeah, and that's that.
Listen an hour, Johnny Quick, Johnny, Johnny, take hold.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.
Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot nit,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from
Boise Idahol. This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnant. But
first I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast,
to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Our
(00:51):
listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can support the
show as one of our ongoing Patreon supporters forts a
little last two dollars per month Patreon dot Great Detectives
dot net and receive special updates from me. You will also,
if you support the program at the Shawmas level of
(01:11):
four dollars or more per month, receive access to extra
podcasts we do generally total of about an hour and
a half in time, might be two half hour, you know,
an hour and a half hour program or three half
hour programs, but regardless, we will do some extra stuff
(01:34):
that you're able to listen to. Check it out at
Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. But now, from June
twenty eighth, nineteen fifty one, here is the big cleft.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
The story you were about to hear is true, only
the names have been changed to protect the innocent you're
a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide Detail. An elderly
(02:15):
man reports the sudden death of his wife. He claims
he awoke in the morning to find her dead on
the floor of their bedroom. The cause of death is
not a parent. Your job investigate.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Drag net, the documented drama of an actual crime. For
the next thirty minutes, in cooperation of the Los Angeles
Police Department, you will travel, step by a step on
the side of the law through an actual case transcribed
from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime
to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force.
In action.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Was Friday, November twelfth. It was cold in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of Homicide Detail.
My partner's Ben Romero. The boss's Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives.
My name's Friday. It was nine thirty eight am when
I got back to the first floor of the Blackwell Hotel,
Room seven.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Oh hi, Joe, come on, yeah, how's the old fellow
doing you tell you anything. Hasn't talked at all. He's
pretty broken now. The woman's dead, that's about it. How
about the bruise on her for do you think that
could have been it. No, it was just a slight bruise.
I don't think that could have killed her.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
They moved the body out of the room, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Yeah, they just did, taking it downtown for the autopsy. Well,
I guess we can take the old man back to
his own room now.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
Huh yeah, I think so.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
He's back here in the kitchen now, fixed him a
cup of Coffee's still feeling pretty bad, mister darnerth would
you like to go back to your room now?
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Everything's been fixed up dinner?
Speaker 7 (04:01):
What happened? You can tell me what happened to Gertrude.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
I'm afraid we don't know, mister Turner, not yet.
Speaker 7 (04:08):
I told you about it, didn't I woke up this
morning about eight o'clock, put marm over on the pillar.
She wasn't there, and I got up my Charlene on
the floor, my wife, Gertrude. I felt her arm. She
was cold, ice cold. Somebody old to know what happened.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Well, we'll let you know, just as ay as we
get the corner's report. Sir, would you like to go
back to your own room?
Speaker 6 (04:34):
Now?
Speaker 7 (04:34):
What's corner have to do with it?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Well, he's gonna have to perform an autopsy. We'll have
the report for you tomorrow morning.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
I don't want him to do that to Gertrude.
Speaker 6 (04:43):
I don't want him to I'm sorry, sir, I'm afraid
it's necessary. Yes, of this kind.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
There was no doctor in attendance, nobody designed the debts ortellicate.
Speaker 7 (04:51):
There's nothing I can do. Nothing to help her.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
I'm sorry, mister Turner. Can we help you back to
your room? Sir?
Speaker 7 (05:00):
Is she still there?
Speaker 6 (05:01):
No, so they've taken nobody downtown. Can I give you
a hand there?
Speaker 7 (05:06):
Thank you?
Speaker 6 (05:09):
All right, I'll get the door.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
Where'd mister Parkson go?
Speaker 6 (05:19):
Who's that, sir?
Speaker 7 (05:20):
The hotel manager, mister Parker? Oh yeah, these are his
rooms here. I wanted to tell him, thank you for
letting me stay down here a while.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
Well, I think you'll be back in a few minutes.
He was busy outside.
Speaker 7 (05:32):
Nice of 'em. Let me use his place. I couldn't
stay in our room, not the way it was Gertrude
out there.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
It's all right now, mister Turner. Can you make the
stairs all right?
Speaker 7 (05:46):
Yes? Thank you. You're just a little tired, that's all.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
I guess.
Speaker 7 (05:51):
The whole thing's betten too much.
Speaker 6 (05:52):
For me. Maybe you'd like to have us call your
family doctor.
Speaker 7 (05:56):
No, we don't have a family doctor. All right, after
a spell, just hard to understand, that's all. You have
to think about it a while. Shit, think about it.
Speaker 6 (06:09):
Yes, here we are, I'll get the door.
Speaker 7 (06:12):
Go ahead, men, Yeah, right there on the floor. That's
where I found her when I woke up, right there
by the bed. Where have they taken her?
Speaker 6 (06:29):
Downtown, mister Turner, to the county Morgue.
Speaker 7 (06:31):
Oh, they'll let me see here, won't they.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
Yes, sir, they will. Do you feel up to answering
a few questions for us? Now?
Speaker 7 (06:38):
All right, I'll tell you everything I know about it.
I don't see how it's gonna help anything.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
I'm gonna try to make it as brief as possible, sir. Now,
your wife's full name is Gertrude Agnes Turner, Is that right?
Speaker 7 (06:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (06:51):
That's right, all right?
Speaker 7 (06:52):
But she Gertrude sixty three? Yeah, that's it. I'm four
years older than her a child.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Tell was your wife in good health, mister Turner, under
a doctor's care or anything like that?
Speaker 7 (07:06):
No, nothing wrong with her.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
I knew of heart trouble anything like that.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
No, sir, She used to have headaches overing now on
them doctor friend of ours back home, you send pills
for her to take. That's about all.
Speaker 6 (07:21):
How was your wife feeling last night with you? All right?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Then?
Speaker 7 (07:24):
Just fine? When I woke up, I put my arm
over on her pillow. She wasn't there. Then I got
up and sorrow laying on the floor right by the
bed Gertrude. She was ice cold. There was a little
bruise up here on her forehead. I thought I was
(07:45):
dreaming she was dead. Who were getting made a year?
Speaker 6 (07:53):
You want to go on stream? You think you feel
all right?
Speaker 7 (07:57):
It's all right, Oh sir, I got a little bit
of brandy and that covered over there. I think I
could use some of you two officers, don't mind perfectly?
Speaker 6 (08:06):
All right? Certain, I'll get a mister dinner.
Speaker 7 (08:12):
We had it all figured out. Tuesday, November sixteenth. That's
her name's day. November sixteenth. It's my wife's name's day.
You see, Gertrude's German girl. A lot of German people
don't celebrate their birthday. They celebrate their names day instead.
Next Tuesday, Saint Gertrude's day.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
Oh yeah, miss dinner.
Speaker 7 (08:37):
Thank you? Either one of your officers casting Brandy certainly
welcome to.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Do you or your wife have many friends in town,
mister Turner.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
No, No, just a few around the hotel here. Gertrude
and I have only been in California a few months,
come out from in Fort Wayne.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Yes, sir, no relatives here.
Speaker 7 (09:03):
No, sure, wife only had one relative living sister. She's
she's back in Indiana.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
Oh. How did you and your wife get along all right?
Speaker 7 (09:11):
Oh? Fine, we never had any trouble. I loved her off.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Sure did your wife have any enemies that you know of, sir?
People she didn't get along with? Somebody who might have
wanted to hurt her?
Speaker 7 (09:22):
Ooh, I can't think her anywhere.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Well, how about some of the men your wife knew
before she married you missed Turner, any bad feelings one
of them might have had Georgia wife.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
No, sure, nothing I know of side. All her old
friends are still back there in Indiana.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
You say your marriage was working out pretty well. Your
wife didn't have any gentleman friends that she might have
been interested in.
Speaker 7 (09:43):
Oh, sure, I know that For the truth. Richard spent
her time at home, She didn't run around. She was
a good wife.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
Would you know if your wife had any reason at
all to take her own wife? Maybe, Well, that's.
Speaker 7 (09:56):
The last thing in the world, Gerdr to do. No
reason for it. We had too many things to look
forward to, lots of things. You don't stop living just
because you passed sixty five. Yes, tell me the truth, officer.
Don't you really know what happened to her?
Speaker 6 (10:13):
No, sir, no more than you do. Afraid we'll have
to wait for that corner's report.
Speaker 7 (10:18):
I don't understand, the officer, But am I supposed to
understand it? I went to bed last night and I
had a wife. Yeah, today's one day off. We're going
to take a car ride down the beach. That's the
dress she was gonna wear hanging up there. Gertrude made
(10:38):
it herself. She was gonna were today.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
I'll try to take it easy, mister Turner.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
I beg your pardon. She's all I had. Why should
she have to die? She didn't have to die, did she?
Speaker 6 (10:53):
I don't know, sir. Maybe she didn't have a choice.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
The body of the dead woman, Missus Gertrude Agnes Turner,
who was removed to the County Morgue for autopsy. Ben
and I filled out the three to eleven form the
dead body report and filed it. Handing the outcome of
the autopsy. A couple of mister Turner's friends who lived
upstairs from him at the Blackwhell Hotel, agreed to look
after the old man until he got over the shock
of his wife's sudden death seven forty five.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
The next morning, I checked in for work as usual. Morning, Joe, morning,
Well you know, not much, pretty slow. How about the
Turner woman? No word in the autopsy?
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Huh No, corner hasn't called yet, and you've got any smokes?
I left the house in hurry this morning, forgot everything.
Yeah right here? Oh thanks, yeah, thanks loves In morning,
another row with a wife.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
Uh surmnn.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
Oh, another one of those church bazaars. She got herself
mixed up and she's calling on me for help again.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Well yeah, what you what you do now? Remember the
last time, don't you?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
That spring bazaar had me working on decorations down the church,
seven nights week eighteen, women running around telling you what
to do. Yeah, it's like a mad house, Joe. This
time is even worse. What do you mean this time?
Speaker 6 (12:07):
The ladies figure they ought to have a little more production.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
They want me to dress up in some kind of
a funny costume option off pies and keys, you know,
stove by a pat fuse mustache work.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
No, you turn them down there, you won't do it
with it?
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Well, not exactly. Wife kicked up such a Rouguess I'll
end up doing it. Got any idea, though, wouldn't be
so bad if I had somebody to work with me?
Speaker 6 (12:30):
You wouldn't like to help me out with Joe?
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Well, I'll tell you, I'm gonna be a little busy, Ben,
But if I get a chance, i'll drop out and
see you though.
Speaker 6 (12:37):
I'll get it. Yeah, homicide Friday? Oh yeah, how was
that all right? Yeah? Okay, we'll be right over was
doc cephalo over it? The more about miss Turner got
the autopsy report for Yeah, they won't sign the death certificate.
What's the trouble? A couple of things looks too suspicious form,
(12:58):
they said? How'd they list? Because of that? She suffocated?
Eight fifteen a m. We went across the street and
talked with doctor Cephalou.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
All he could tell us was that Gertrude Turner had
suffered severe convulsions and that she had died of suffocation.
There was a small bruise in her forehead and numerous
other small bruises around the base of the throat, not
enough to say that the woman had been murdered, and
yet too much to dismiss the case as an accidental death.
Together with Lorman and Barrett from Homicide, Ben and I
looked up some of the friends of mister and missus Turner.
(13:30):
We found two points which didn't check out with the
story that mister Turner had told us. According to the friends,
Turner had had some violent arguments with his wife. On
at least one occasion he had struck her. And Secondly,
the dead woman did have a gentleman friend in the neighborhood,
but his conduct with her had been above question was
strictly friendship. We decided to take it from there. We
went back to the Blackwell Hotel and found mister Turner
(13:53):
in his room. He was wrapping up some of his
wife's personal effects and packing them in corrugated boxes. We
told him about the corners.
Speaker 7 (14:05):
I don't think I believe that Charger people just don't suffocate.
There's gotta be a reason.
Speaker 6 (14:11):
For it, Yes, sir, that's what we're looking for.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
Well, don't they know can't they tell you how it
happened that the doctors.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Well, she had severe convulsions, she suffocated, that's just all
they could tell us.
Speaker 7 (14:20):
Well, a bruise on her head, Gertrude for it, What
did they say about that?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Well, that wasn't the cause of death, mister Turner. She
could have gotten a bump when she fell out of bed.
It might have been there, it might not.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
I just don't understand. You think they'd be some way
of tell 'em.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Well, we were around talking to some of your friends
in the neighborhood this morning, friends.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
Of you and your wife.
Speaker 7 (14:40):
Yeah, Oh, they've been real friends, officers. Every one of
'em been up to see me, brought me meals and things. Say,
isn't that a pretty see? Just look at them? Yes,
real boon china, a cup in a saucer. Richard used
to collect 'em, had o kays.
Speaker 6 (15:01):
Pitty, Yes, sir.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
When we were talking to you yesterday, Sarah, you told
us that you and your wife got along pretty well,
no arguments.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Yes, sure, that's right.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
Well, now, some of your friends tell us that you
used to argue with your wife quite a bit. Who
told you that some of your friends here in the neighborhood.
Is that true.
Speaker 7 (15:19):
When we first got married, Gertrude and I, I guess we
had a few spats, no different than other people getting
used to each other, things like that.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
You know, huh. Did you ever strike your wife, mister Tanner? Right, Yes,
that routine question. Did you ever strike your wife, mister Dinner.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Yes, one of the first arguments we had. I don't
even remember what it was about, that's how important it was.
I well, I lost my temper. I guess I kind
of slapped her. I felt like a no good bump.
Never once happened again, slappin' Gertrude chard to remember right now?
Speaker 6 (16:04):
Oh, we ask you the same question yesterday, sir. Couldn't
you told us that? Then? Oh?
Speaker 7 (16:08):
I'm sorry if s I guess I missed it. I well,
I wasn't feeling too good. I think you know what
I mean.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
But you remember us asking if your wife had any
gentleman friends.
Speaker 7 (16:20):
Yes, I remember that.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Well, is it true?
Speaker 7 (16:24):
Well, there's one fellow name's Clyde Warren, runs a drug
store down the street. I guess Gertrude knew him bearing anybody,
but he was my friend too.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Well, did you ever complain to this Clyde Warren, that
he was spending too much time around your wife, that
he ought to see less out.
Speaker 7 (16:40):
I think I did, maybe once or twice, which was
kind of in a fooling way. Certainly didn't mean it.
Clyde Warren's one of my best friends.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
Did you ever complain to your wife that she was
thinking too much warm? No?
Speaker 7 (16:54):
Sure, never even mentioned it. Why ask me all these things.
Speaker 6 (16:58):
When your wife's dead, mister Turning? We still have and
foind out why?
Speaker 7 (17:01):
But you asked me questions like I had something to
do with it.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
You were the last one to see her alive, sir.
You were alone with her in this room the night
she died.
Speaker 7 (17:09):
You think I killed Gertrude? Is that it? You think
I killed my own wife.
Speaker 6 (17:14):
I'm sure we didn't say anyone killed her.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Do you think I killed my own wife? You think
I killed her?
Speaker 6 (17:19):
What did you kill her? Mister?
Speaker 7 (17:22):
You know I didn't kill Gertrude. You know I didn't
do that.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
I'm sorry, sir, It's not much else we can do, now,
What do you mean?
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Corner found a series of bruises on the body right
around here, based on the neck. We know she died
a suffocation that two things seemed to fit pretty well.
Speaker 7 (17:41):
I don't know what you mean. I didn't see any bruises,
not on her neck. I don't know what you mean.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
Well, I have to take you downtown. Sir. You call your
lawyer now if you like.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
I don't have a lawyer. Why are you taking me
down to?
Speaker 6 (17:55):
No alternative? We're going to have to book you.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
How's that?
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Suspicion of murder? Ten twenty five am.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Before we booked him at the main jail, mister Turner
asked us if we'd get off a telegram to his
sister in law, missus Helen Raymond and Fort Wayne, Indiana,
informing her of what had happened.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
We told him we would, and we did.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
We booked him in on suspicion of one to eighty
seven PC, and then we checked back in at the office.
We put in a call to the insurance company that
held a policy on Missus Turner.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Yes, sir, Gertrude Agnes Turner, what was that? All right?
All right, thank you sir, goodbye? What they have to say?
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Missus Turner had three different policies on her life total
of five thousand dollars. Mister Turner's a beneficiary on all three.
It'll do for a motive something else. Yeah, yeah, newest
policies for one thousand dollars industrial policy.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
When was it taken out three weeks ago?
Speaker 3 (18:54):
You are in the scientific investigation division of a metropolitan
police department. The rule.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
You have just heard a test bullet fired from a
thirty eight caliber revolver found on the possession of a suspect.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
The test slug is removed from the ballistics box and
compared with the slug found at the scene of the crime.
There they are side by side. They look alike, but
examination will prove a world of difference.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Monday, November fifteenth, ten am, the investigation went on. We
failed to uncover any additional evidence against the suspect, mister Turner.
We had three main points against the man. The recently
issued insurance policy on his wife for one thousand dollars,
the fact that he had fought with his wife and
struck her on several occasions, and the series of bruises
which had been discovered at the base of the dead
(19:54):
woman's neck. Well, as it stood, we weren't too sure
that the case had holed up in court. Ben was
less Shue, or that the old man was actually responsible
for the death of his wife. We figured if Turner
was gilly, we might try to impress him with the
evidence against him and attempt to get a confession. Monday,
one pm, we went over to the main jail to
interrogate the suspect.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
If you want to step aside there, they want to
lock that door.
Speaker 8 (20:22):
Oh yes, this way, mister Turner. I'll get the last way.
Speaker 6 (20:36):
Right you're here, mister Turner. Mister Turner, like to sit down?
Speaker 7 (20:44):
Thank you? Why'd you come to see me? Have you
found out something?
Speaker 4 (20:49):
We've been checking a little bit further into the case,
mister Turner. We got a few more questions for you,
if you don't mind.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
Did you send the message to my sister and missus Raymond?
Do you want I asked you to send?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (20:58):
Or we took care of it the address, right, didn't you?
Fort Wayne? Indiana?
Speaker 6 (21:02):
That's right, just sent a telegram, told her all about it.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
That was two days ago. She should have gotten it,
but now I haven't heard a word from her. Are
you sure she got the telegram? All right?
Speaker 6 (21:13):
Pretty sure.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
We'll check on it and we get back to the office.
A few things we got here that you might like
to know about, Sir. Maybe you can help clear him
up for us.
Speaker 7 (21:19):
What's that, officer?
Speaker 6 (21:20):
We understand that your wife, Gertrud, had some insurance on
herself five thousand dollars worth.
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Yes, that's right. Something you want to know about it?
Speaker 6 (21:28):
Well, she named you as the beneficiary in each of
her policies.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
A correct, yes, sir, Gertrude was a great believer in insurance.
Don't hold with her too much myself. She used to
tell me all the time, guess uh in case she
died first, she wanted me to have a little something
for old age, something to retire on and get a
little ranch out in the valley.
Speaker 5 (21:50):
I understand she took out a policy just lately, a
thousand dollars about three weeks ago.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
I know about it. I didn't want her to do
it clean, waste of money. I told her payments you're
pretty steep.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Well, sir, is there anybody who can back that up
that you told your wife you didn't want her to.
Speaker 6 (22:05):
Take out that policy.
Speaker 7 (22:08):
No, I don't think so. We didn't talk about our
business with other people.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
M M, yeah, Friday, I don't know. Yeah, what is it?
Phone calls does it's important you don't want to be
Do you want to get it? Then okay, you.
Speaker 9 (22:20):
Can take it out the desk here all I think.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
I think I know what you mean the insurance. You
think that's why I killed Gertrude, isn't it right?
Speaker 6 (22:33):
Well, sir, put yourself in our place, mister Turner, What
would you think.
Speaker 7 (22:36):
You know in your heart? I didn't kill my wife?
You know that in your heart?
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Well, they don't pay us for what we believe. Turner.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
It pass to get the facts, to run down evidence
doesn't make any difference what I believe.
Speaker 7 (22:47):
Would you know I didn't kill her? You know that,
don't you?
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Well, sir, I know.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
We ask you if you ever argued with your wife,
and you told us no. We found out you beat
her up a couple of times. We asked you if
she was friendly with any of the men in the neighborhood.
You told us no, We found one. We asked you
about the bruises the coroner found on her neck.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
You don't know.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
You can't explain him. We asked if your wife had
been ill, if she had any sickness, to explain her
dying the way she did, and you said no. We
asked you about the insurance. You can't explain that either.
Three weeks before she dies, she takes out a thousand
dollars on her life.
Speaker 6 (23:19):
She dies in the same room with you, and you
don't know how or why. Now you tell me, mister,
what are we supposed to believe.
Speaker 7 (23:26):
Hi didn't kill her? Somebody has to believe that somebody
I didn't kill her.
Speaker 6 (23:35):
Joe, see you man?
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Yeah, yeah, had phone call. It was a long distance
Turner's sister, Missus Raymond. What she wanted calling from Fort Wayne.
She's flying out here tonight. Seemed pretty rode.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
Up about her sister. Huh. Mostly about mister Turner. She
claims he's innocent. Seems pretty sure of it. She can
prove that Turner didn't kill his wife, That's what she said.
She's bringing the proof with her.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Tuesday, November sixteenth, Turner's sister in law, Missus Raymond, was
scheduled to arrive at six p m by plane from Indiana.
At two p m, one of the main points in
the case against the suspect was proven false. A woman
friend of Missus Turner, after reading of the husband's arrest
in the paper, informed us that while Missus Turner was
visiting her home a few days before she died. She
(24:23):
complained of a severe headache. The woman's son, who was
studying to be a chiropractor, attempted to treat missus Turner's
headache by manipulating the muscles in her neck and shoulders.
The woman said that Missus Turner called the next day
and complained about receiving bruises on her neck as a
result of her son's experimental treatment. The son came down
to the office and signed a full statement to this effect.
(24:44):
At seven p m. Mister Turner's sister in law arrived,
whither was a doctor John Grant of Fort Wayne, Physician.
The two of them told us their story and gave
us all the information they had concerning the case. Ben
and I went immediately to the main jail, picked up
mister Turner and brought him back to the office.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
His sister in law and doctor Grant waited in the
adjoining room.
Speaker 7 (25:03):
Why did you bring me here? You're gonna ask me
more questions. I told you everything.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
No, sir, no more questions.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
You can't take me off the prisoner. I haven't had
a trial he is.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
No, sir, You're not going to have a trial, mister Turner,
we're releasing it. How is that your sister in law
is Raymond. She's in the next room with her doctor.
We're going to take you home, Sir.
Speaker 7 (25:21):
I don't think I understand, officer.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
How do you mean your sister and now just got
in from Fort Wayne tonight and she has her family
doctor with her. They told us about your wife, Gertrude,
everything we had to.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
Know about Gertrude, my wife. Well, what do you mean, officer.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Well, maybe you can understand, sir. Your wife was afraid
to let you know. She told her sister. She was
afraid it might break up her marriage.
Speaker 7 (25:44):
Afraid to tell me what.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Well, your wife suffered from epilepsy. She had it most
of her life.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
She had epilepsies, Yes, sir.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
She did.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
And this doctor Grant showed us that he's been sending
your wife medicine ever since you moved out here to California.
He treated her many times for the same thing before
you met her. She figured it might ruin her chances
of marrying you, so she kept it a secret.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
The menace I remember that used to come through the meal.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
Well, that's it counts for the headache. She had the
night before she died. She probably had an attack during
the night, suffocated. That's how you found her in the morning.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
Well, why didn't they know the corner they examined?
Speaker 6 (26:21):
He Well, sir, that's just the point.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
If you die of epilepsy, there's just no way of telling,
not even by autopsy.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
Convulsions and suffocation that's the only way they can list it.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
And she was a shamed she was afraid to tell me.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
Yes, sir, that's what she wrote to your sister in law.
We saw the letters.
Speaker 7 (26:39):
And I can leave now if I want to it.
Is it all right?
Speaker 6 (26:42):
We'll get your things from the property clerk first and
then you can go.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
Can I see Helen now, my sister in law? I'd
like to say alone, Yes, so you can. It's right
to that door. Well, thank you, changing it's all right,
Oh sure, yes, Just one thing i'd like to ask. Yes,
you knew all the time, didn't you? I mean, in
your own heart? How's that I couldn't kill Gertrude? In
(27:08):
your own heart? You knew that, didn't you? Aren't sure?
Speaker 6 (27:14):
Yes, sir, I know it.
Speaker 7 (27:16):
I thought you did. I'll be right.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Back, Joe. I wouldn't worry about him. We'll call it
a quite lie.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
The story you have.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Just heard was true, only the names were changed to
protect the innocent.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
On November sixteenth, the meeting was held in the office
of Blaine Steed, Captain of Homicide. In a moment the
results of that meeting, the death of Gertrude Turner was
proved beyond the doubt to be due to natural causes.
A nine point ten report was made which completely exonerated
(28:06):
the husband of the dead woman. You have just heard
Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical
advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker,
Los Angeles Police Department.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Stay tuned for Carters by Next over most NBC stations.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Welcome back. He wanted some help, but no doubt the
best he's going to get is Joe Friday coming down
to the church event to chuckle quietly at being in
his outfit. This is an interesting episode and features a
case where the police had reason to be suspicious and
(29:00):
acting appropriately, but nevertheless, the suspect was innocent. The purpose
of the investigation is ultimately to get at the truth,
not jump at first conclusions or impressions. The only thing
that may have given a clue to what was actually
going on worthy small insurance policies. Carrying a bunch of
(29:22):
little insurance policies is a bit annoying, and one reason
to do that is if you've got health problems and
you want to avoid a big medical exam. Even back
in nineteen fifty one, these weren't particularly large policies, and
today's money be sixty two thousand dollars, it'd be kind
(29:45):
of weird today for someone to have sixty two thousand
dollars in insurance insurance spread across four policies.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Well.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Listener comments and feedback, and there is some comments regarding
the big impossible and received a note from Blaine, from
Jim and also from David highlighting the fact that the
events were most likely taken from a nineteen twenty eight
(30:15):
case where a boy named Walter Cowins was missing and
a boy in Illinois showed up claiming to be him,
but was later proven to be an impostor. In real life,
the mother knew from the start of Christine Collins that
this was not her son. The LAPD captain J. J.
(30:39):
Jones thought she was a bad mother and she was
embarrassing the police Department and so had her committed until
the impostor admitted that he was not her son, and
Missus Collins subsequently sued the LAPD and one a judgment
(31:00):
which was never paid. A farmer was found and convicted
of the crime, but even though he admitted to other murders,
he denied murdering Walter Collins, who admitted to being an accessory,
recanted her confession, and Missus Collin spent the rest of
(31:22):
her life trying to find her son. This story was
also the basis of the The Changeling, and while I
think it would be really odd if there were another
case like this, it would be very weird for the
la PDA to support web making an episode on the
(31:46):
basis of that case because it was a huge news story.
It had been two decades, but there were still plenty
of people alive from the incident, including Missus Collins, so
it saves the like the risk of bringing all that
back up would be very, very high, which at a
(32:09):
time when they were trying to improve the force's image.
It just seems like such a weird decision, but I
do appreciate the information and everybody taking time to reach out.
Well now it is time to go ahead and thank
our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to
thank Candoras Patreon supporter since October twenty twenty one, currently
(32:30):
supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of seven
dollars and fourteen cents or more per month. Thanks so
much for your support, Candace, And that will do it
for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us
using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate
and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll
(32:52):
be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragging That,
But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly. Johnny,
do all aware?
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Oh what is it?
Speaker 6 (33:02):
I said?
Speaker 10 (33:03):
The greatest fishing in this man's world is right down
there below us.
Speaker 9 (33:06):
Oh watch your language, brother.
Speaker 10 (33:07):
I allowed to strap on a chute and leave you
to make the rest of the trip alone.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Fisherman.
Speaker 9 (33:11):
Huh, Yeah, you aren't kidding. That one of my favorite spots, right. Hey,
what's the marry?
Speaker 10 (33:17):
I think just a little twitch in my side my belly.
Doc said, was appendicid this last time, but he didn't
want to operate in this.
Speaker 9 (33:25):
Holy babe, that was a shot. Won't cliff anything I
can do?
Speaker 7 (33:29):
No, it's.
Speaker 9 (33:31):
Coming now.
Speaker 10 (33:31):
I sure, hope so ah, sure, sure, just came on
kind of sudden. So hey, it's time to call up
lads at the mine to be ready for us.
Speaker 9 (33:41):
How big is the airport up there? Eleven thousand foot?
Speaker 6 (33:44):
Right?
Speaker 7 (33:45):
Really?
Speaker 9 (33:46):
Sure?
Speaker 10 (33:46):
It's the only way to get stuff in for mines
one hundred miles around speed draft two three one calling consolidated.
Go ahead, please, somebody on duty there at all times
twenty four hours. Go ahead or over Fairbanks on the hour,
jolly rider Cliff.
Speaker 9 (34:03):
Over Fairbanks at fourteen dollars and roll.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Out the carpet.
Speaker 10 (34:07):
We'll sit down between fourteen forty five and fifty.
Speaker 9 (34:11):
Rider Cliff will be ready for you. Yeah, and that's that.
Listen an hour, Johnny Quick, Johnny, Johnny, take hold.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.
Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot nit,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from
Boise Idahol. This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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